Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Tiramisu al Limone (Limoncello)
A bright, summery, caffeine-free variation of the classic. Ladyfingers soaked in a tangy Limoncello syrup, layered with lemon-zest mascarpone cream.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 275 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 8 servings
- savoiardi (ladyfingers)
- mascarpone cheese
- eggs (separated)
- granulated sugar
- lemons (zest and juice)
- limoncello liqueur
- water
- white chocolate (optional, for garnish)
Equipment
- Electric mixer
- Baking dish (8x8 inch)
Instructions
- 1
Make Lemon Syrup
In a saucepan, heat water, sugar, and lemon juice until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, and stir in the Limoncello.
- 2
Whip Whites
Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks.
- 3
Beat Yolks
Beat the egg yolks with sugar and a generous amount of fresh lemon zest until thick and pale.
- 4
Make Cream
Fold the mascarpone cheese into the egg yolk mixture until completely smooth.
- 5
Lighten Cream
Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the mascarpone mixture. (Optionally, stir in a splash of limoncello here too).
- 6
Dip Ladyfingers
Quickly dip the ladyfingers into the warm lemon-limoncello syrup. Do not let them soak.
- 7
First Layer
Arrange a tight layer of dipped ladyfingers in the bottom of your dish.
- 8
Add Cream
Spread half of the lemon mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers.
- 9
Second Layer
Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and top with the remaining cream.
- 10
Chill and Garnish
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Before serving, garnish with fresh lemon zest curls or shaved white chocolate.
Cooking Tips
- Use organic, unwaxed lemons, as you will be using a large amount of the zest.
- If making this for children, you can boil the limoncello with the syrup to evaporate the alcohol, or substitute it entirely with a strong lemon syrup.
Variations
- With Lemon Curd: Spread a thin layer of sharp lemon curd over the ladyfingers before adding the mascarpone cream.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- A specialty of the Amalfi coast and Sorrento, where the lemons are famous.
Nutrition Estimate
420 calories · 7g protein · 45g carbs · 22g fat · 1g fiber per serving
